Police: 6 killed in Houston-area police chase

Police: 6 killed in Houston-area police chase

Two badly damaged vehicles remain at the scene of an accident with multiple fatalities early Monday, Aug. 11, 2014, in in League City, Texas.

Photo by
Associated Press
/Times Free Press.

LEAGUE CITY, Texas - A family of four were among six people killed Sunday when a motorist seen driving erratically southeast of Houston fled from police and drove through a stop sign before striking another vehicle, police said.

Authorities described the collision in League City as one of the worst they've seen, with both vehicles left unrecognizable.

"As far as lives lost and a devastating accident scene, this would probably top any other accidents for the League City police department," police spokeswoman Reagan Pena said Monday.

The police pursuit began Sunday night in nearby Dickinson when a Dodge Durango was seen operating erratically and without its headlights on, according to Dickinson police Capt. Jay Jaekel. Officer Daniel Banda pursued the Durango but had trouble keeping up, Jaekel said. At one point the SUV clipped a vehicle as it sped through an intersection. Shortly after the Durango drove through the stop sign in League City, entered another intersection and struck a Honda Accord.

Jaekel said the pursuit lasted about a minute and a half. A preliminary investigation indicated Banda followed department policy while engaged in the pursuit, Jaekel said Monday.

The driver of the Durango was identified as Juan Garcia Ahuezoteco, 23. A Galveston County warrant had been previously issued for his arrest on a felony charge of driving while intoxicated, Jaekel said. Ahuezoteco died at the scene Sunday, as did his passenger, Alejandro Molina.

All four people in the Honda also were killed. Police identified them as Rafael Guerrero, 41, and his wife Alejandra Guerrero, 38; their unidentified 15-year-old son; and the woman's brother, Gilberto Ortega Jr., 25.